Injection molding apparatus



Feb. 17, 1948. G. F. RoTsLl-:R

- INJECTION MOLDING APPARATUS Filed March 20, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 6.50255 ,4T/4707.15@

.4free/van Feb. 17, 194s.

G. F. ROTSLER INJECTION MOLDING APPARATUS Filed March 20, -1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR. 650265/4? A70/115e,

Patented Feb. 17, 1948 UNITED STATES 'z-PATENT OFFICE 2,436,122 nvJEo'rroNl MoLnrNG APPARATUS George F. Rotsler,y Los Angeles,l Calif. Application March zo, 19414, serial No. 527,186

7 claims. (ci. is-so) v My invention relates generally to the molding of plastic products, andmore particularly to an 'improved apparatus whereby thermosetting plastics can be successfully molded by the injection method.

The application of the injection principle, originally used only for thermoplastic materials, has had some measure of success under the name of transfer molding. However, so far as I am aware, this method has not proved satisfactory from a practical production point of view, since the many delays occurring between steps have prevented anything approaching continuous production. Y

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a molding apparatus adaptable to the fabrication of either thermosetting materials or thermoplastic materials, but particularly to the molding of thermosetting materials. By

eliminating the possibility of the molding material setting up prior to its injection into the mold, and the consequent interruption occasioned thereby in the repeated performance of the method by the machine, I provide a machinewhich "is substantially continuous in operation,

' iIt is also an object of my invention to provide 'an injection type molding machine in which setup of the molding material before its injection Vinto n matically sealing the mold cavity following injection of the plastic material into the mold to thereby maintain the material under pressure in the mold cavity, whereby the final molded product takes the exact shape and form of ,the mold, is uniform in color, and has a lasting surface luster without additional finishing operations.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an injecting mechanism which is characterized by its ability to effect a fluid-tight seal between its outlet nozzle and the valve structurerand to lprevent leakage of the material at that point.

These and other objects and advantages offmy invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred form of my meth- 2 od and apparatusand from the accompanying drawings,`in which: I

Fig. 1 is`a view showing infront elevation one form-of Vinjection molding machine embodying f 'myinventio'n| with'portions of the front standards brolrenawayr and portions of the rear standards'in section;

f Fig. y2 ris a top plan ofthe machine shown in Figf3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of a part of the machine shownlin v Fig, 'Tis a detailed perspective view on a reduced scale showing the valve of the preceding figures.

. Similar reference characters refer to similar VVparts in each of the several views.

C 'The-machine in 'its present Vembodiment may comprise a housing vIflwhich lis preferably of cubical form, and includes atop I5 in the four Acorners of whichiare secured the lower ends of uprising standardsy I6, Il, 4I8 and 19. Slidably mounted, for vertical movement on the lower portions of these standardsisa movable platen 20, and suitably secured to the upper side of this platen is the lower and movable section 2| of a mold M. The platen 20 is actuable to occupy an 'elevated position and a lowered position, by `means of a piston 22'sli`dable through the top l5 and operating in a Vcylinder (not shown) contained in the housing |4 and to which pressure fluid is adapted to be supplied for actuation of the piston as will be later described. The mold M also includes a stationary section 24 secured by screws 25 to the underside of a stationary platen V26,'tl'1rela'tter in turn beingsecured at its four corners to the'standards it, I1, etc., by nuts 21 and 28, threaded on the standards to adjust the platen to the required vertical position.

The mold sections 2| and 24 are adapted to be heated by anyfsuitable medium, such for example, as the electrical heating coil C, for the pur 'pose ofmaintaining the mold at a proper temperature for curing'the thermosetting material `injected into themold. As best shown in Fig. `3,

themoldsection.2l4 is provided witha cavity` 29 `which connects with the'sprue 30 of a bushing 3 I.

to form a. slot 35 in which a valve V is slidably received, this v lve preferably being in the form of a plate and having a stem-36 slidable in a channel 31 formed between the sections 32 and 33. i

Secured to the channel end of the Vvalve body B is a cylinder 38. one end of which is open to most position of the nozzle can be adjusted to ber 51a must be plasticized togive flow quality thereto in order Athat it may be eiectually transferred from ther cylinder into the mold by operation of the ram 56. To reduce the material to @this plasticized state any suitable heating mereceive the valve stem 36 so that Asuch stem forms the rod of a piston 33;.operablewithin the cylinder. By means of pipes40and 4l connected' to the ends of the cylinder 38, as illustrated inY Figs. 4 and 5, pressure iiuid can be supplied to either side of the pistonj39to move thejvalve V to the open position shown in Fig. '4 or to the closed positionshown in Fig. 5.. In the open position ofthe valve a port 4 2 therein registers with the sprue3tlE andjromthis point the Vsprue extends upwardly throughthe body B to a conical seat 43 in the upper side ofthe body. -In this position o f the valve the sprue-3Il is open-to the seat 43 to allow the plastic material to be injected into the mold cavityfgggaswillfbe more fullydescribed hereinaiter 1 In the closed position of the valve V, theport 42 is moved into registration with a passage 44 in the upper. valveb'odypo'rtion 33 to allow the plunger 45 cfa solenoid 46 to-eject from the portv that slug of material-whichremains therein fol- 10W11g eachinjeoting'vpfation. As this slug is ejected from the'port,` it falls into a passage 41 from which it may-be removed by a blast of air from any suitable source VV(not shown).

Disposed above the valvebody B and-its operating mechanism issi'tixated lafmechanism for injecting plastic material into the molding cavity 29 in proper timed relation tor` the operation of the valve V and thefopening Zand closing of the.v mold M. This'mechanism may comprise a platform 48 mounted for vertical adjustment adjacent the upperfends of the standards I6, I1, etc., by nuts 49 and'50. Secured to the upper side of the platform 48 lisa lpower cylinder 5i provided with pipes 52 and 53 for supplying pressurel ,fluid to either side rof a piston 54 for lowering or elevating vthe pistonwithin'y they cylinder. The piston 54 is provided .with a rod-.55 extending downfwardly throughan opening in the platform 48,-* and connected at its lowerend to a ram 56 oper- 'ating in a cylinderl SIpartly closed at its upper end by a head58. .The cylinder 51 and its head are movable vertically within a stationary sleeve 59 secured withinthe `opening in the platform 48. The cylinder 51 is provided with an annular flange 60 to forma seat for the lower end of a coiled compression springy 6Iv surrounding the sleeve 59 between the flange and the underside of the platform and designed Ato yieldably urge the cylinder downwardly. The cylinder 51 `carries ahopper 62 which constitutes a reservoir for plasticmaterial in granular or powdered form adaptedto gravitate from the hopper into the cylinder 51 and thereby provide a constantsource of material supply for the cylinder. The lower end of the cylinder 51 is provided with a nozzle |33V better shown in Fig. 4

as having'aconical 4end to tit-within the seatV 43, .and provided withnutsf .by which the Vloweradiuin maybe employed such as the electrical Aheating coil CI arranged about the cylinder adfjacentthe-nozzle 63.

The -heatsV generated by the respective coils C anidlCI must of necessity be controlled to mainftain those temperatures in the plastlcized chamber 51a and the mold cavity 29 requisite to first plasticize and then cure the ,material Means for effecting suc ha control vis conventional, and as shown-,in Fig. 1, controls 66 and 61 are provided for this purpose;v

Fluid pressure may be supplied to the cylinder 38 for operating-fthe valve mechanism, to the cylinder 5I forfactuatingthe injection mechanismfand 4to the cylinder for operating the pis- .ton 22 by any conventional Yfluid pressure system. In Fig. 1 such a system is shown asincluding avalve'housing 68 within the housing I4 and containing the necessary valves to control the supply of uid pressure Afrom a source 69 to the cylinders 38 and 5I, and to the cylinder for actuating the piston 22, all in a manner to effect operation of the machine in the prescribed manner. Y

For circulating iiuid in either direction to or from the cylinder 38 the pipe 40 vis connected to a A,duct 'IIJ in the standard I6, while the pipe 4I is connected to a duct1I in the standard I1. The lower ends of theseducts 10 and 1I are connected by pipes 12 and113 to the valve housing 68.

For circulating fluid in either direction to and from the power cylinder 5I the pipe 52 is connected to the upper end of a duct 14 in the standard I8, while the pipe 53 is similarly connected to a duct 15 in the standardv I9. The lower ends of these ducts 14 and 15 are connected by pipes 16 and 11 to the valve housing 68. Thus by forming the ducts inthe several standards. the standards are utilized as pipes for the fluid pressure system, thereby eliminating the use of aclditional pipes. f

Operation of the valves contained within the housing 68 may be eected automatically and in proper timed sequence to operate the valve mechanism, the material injecting mechanism and the piston 22 to open and close the mold in the successive and continuous fabrication of the plastic material into molded products. The means for operating the valves may be conventional, vand hence have not been shown in detail, but only knobs I, 2 and 3 .(Fig. l) by which operation of the valves may be individually timed.

As is conventional in injection molding machines of this character, mean-s is provided for eiecting automatic ejection of the molded product from the mold M following'each molding operation. In the present instance, this means comprises a pair of rods 18 secured to and rising from the top I5 and movable through openings 19 in the platen 20 when the latter is lowered, to engage and lift arrns 180.W These narms are movable 111..,tbe lowenmold section. 2l and However, incident to this charging being connected to knock-out pins 8| disposed below the mold cavity, operate to elevate the pins and eject the molded product, when lifted. t Operation of the machine in the performance of the molding method to fabricate a product, is as follows:

With the pari-s f the machine in the positions shown in Fig. l, and the loading chamber 51a and the mold cavity heated to the requisite temperatures for plasticizing and curing, fluid pressure supplied to ther upper `side of power piston 54 moves it downwardly and imparts a corresponding movement to the ram 56. Asl the ram moves downwardly the injection cylinder 51 descendsvunder the expansive action of the spring El., and thus the cylinder is driven downward in advance of the ram to cause the nozzle 63 to tightly t in the seat 43 and thereby place the cylinder in communication with the valve port 42. The remaining movement of the ram forces that charge of thermosetting material plasticized by the heating medium 65 and in advance of the ram as supplied to the cylinder from the hopper 62, through the nozzle 63, and into the mold cavity 29 by way ofA the valve port 42 and the sprue 30.

From this mode of operation of the ram, cylinder and spring, it will be clear that the nozzle is automatically sealed on the valvebody before actual pressure is exerted on the material in the cylinder l so that no material is prematurely ejected to cause improper seating of the nozzle and leakage of thematerial at this point.

Once the material charge has been transferred to the mold cavity, fluid pressure is supplied to the cylinder 38 to retract the piston 39, and move the valve V to close the sprue and seal the material in the cavity. The precise closed posi'- tion of the valve to bring the port 42 into registration with the passage 44 may be determined by a previous adjustment of a set screw 82 asso- 'ciated with the cylinder and piston as shown in Fig. 5. Upon the valve V reaching closed position the solenoid 4,6 becomes energized to actuate the plungerll and eject the slug remaining in the port into the passage 4l.

' The plasticized materialbeing now sealed in the mold cavity and under great pressure is subjected to the heat of the coil C until cured,

whereupon the platen 20 is automatically lowered to open the mold and eject the molded product. Meanwhile, however, immediately following closure of the valve V, fluid pressure is supplied to the lower side of the power piston 54 to retract the ram 56 to its original elevated position, and through its engagement with the head 58 the injection cylinder 5'! and the nozzle 63y are retracted to elevated position, and the spring 6| again compressed. As the ram reaches its uppermost position it uncovers the feeding endof the hopper 62 to allow a second char-ge of material to enter the chamber 51a.

' The purpose of retracting the injection assembly immediately following transfer of the charge andclosure of the valve as above described is to remove the second, charge of material from the heat zone of theV mold and its heating element. If it were allowed to remain in that heat zone, the temperature of the cylinder and noz` zle would quickly rise to cause the plasticized materialtherein to set up or harden. Manifestly if this werepermitted tooccur the only recourse would be to stop the machine, disassemble the injection assembly and remove the hardened material. Thus by eliminating this possibility. op-

eration of the machine inthe successivefrnold.' ing of plastic products is made continuous.` l

While I have described the operation of the materials, including: a mold having a cavity therein; a valve body having a sprue leading to the mold cavity; a seat in said body at the entrance end of said sprue; a plate valve having a` port therein and slidable in said body to open and close said sprue by the registry or non-registry of said port with said sprue; a cylinder havinga nozzle thereon adapted to engage said scatta source of plastic material for said cylinder; a ram movable in one direction in said cylinder to ad- '25 mit a charge of material to said cylinder from said source, and in another direction` to eject the charge from said nozzle; mechanism operable to open said valve, move said cylinder so `asto press said nozzle on said seat, then move said ram in that directionto eject the material charge from said nozzle and into said cavity through said sprue, and finally to close said valve; and a plunger positioned adjacent the path of said valve plate. in registry with said valve port when said valve is in a retracted position out of registry with said sprue.

2. An injection molding machine for plastic materials, including: a valve body having a sprue leading to the cavity of a mold and a valve receiving channel therein; a seat in said body at, the

v entrance end of said sprue; Va plunger disposed adjacent said channel; a valve plate reciprocably slidable in the channel in said bodyto openand close said sprue,- said valve plate having a port therein registering with said sprue when in one position and registering with said plunger when in another position; a cylinder having a nozzle thereon adapted toI engage said seat; a source of plastic material for said cylinder; a ramr movable to eject a charge from said nozzle; a plunger;

and mechanism operable to reciprocate said valve plate to register said valve port and sprue, move said cylinder so as to press said nozzle on said seat, then move said ram to eject the material charge from said nozzle and into said mold cavity through said sprue, and then to close said valve by moving said valve plate, port out of `registry with said sprue and into registry with said-A plunger and move said ram in the opposite direction, and to move said cylinder so that said nozzle is separated from saidvalve body, immediately upon closure of said valve, and to cause said rplunger to lenter said plate port.

3. An injection molding machine for plastic materials, including: a plurality of standards; a stationary platen secured to said standards and carrying a stationary mold section; a movable platen slidable on said standards and carrying a movable mold section; a valve body secured to said stationary platen; a sprue in'said body and leading to said 'stationary mold section; a valve plate slidable inl said valve body having a` port therein which registers with said sprue when said plate is in one position; fluid pressure actuated means for reciprocating said valve plate on said stationary platen; a support secured to said standards: :material inj ectiugmeans movable ion said: support to engage and disenga'ge ysaidgvaive body at said sprue; uidpressure actuated means onv said support Vfor operating said material'inf jecting means; a source iof; iiuid pressure; ducts insaid standardsconnectedtto said source; pipes connected to certain of Ysaid ducts; and to said valve operating means: .other pipes connected yto the remaining ducts and to said means forY operating said injecting means; a plunger positioned adjacent the path of saidvalve .plate and adapted to enter said valve plate port whenjlthelatter is in retracted position; and means iorzoperating Vsaid plunger when said portfis iin registry therewith. 1 w `24.1In injection moldingy apparatus Aci thegtype having means for supporting a mold .and means for injecting .aV plastic material into 'saidmold under pressure,.the;combination` with said mold supporting means of: meansxforming a passage torrthe injection of said plastic material into said mold and providing azchannel crossing said passage; a valve in the form of a plate reciproc'ably and slidablymountedinlsaid channel and provided with a port whichregisters with said passage inone position of said valve topermit the injection Vof plastic intov said mold, and registers with :another passage in another position of said valve; a plunger aligned Kvwith said last mentioned passage and adapted to reciprocate there-k inand to pass through said port when the same isaligned with said passage; and meansfor reciprocating said valve from one of said positions to the other, saidvalve closing Asaid first mentionedlpassage when said port is not in register therewith. L l

': 5.. An injection molding machine Vfor plastic materials, including: Va movable injection cylinder; a mold having a passage forreceiving plasticized material from said cylinder; a sourceof plastic material for said cylinder; a ram movable in one direction in said cylinder to admit a charge of material to said cylinder from said source, and in another direction .to eject the charge from said cylinder; means for .actuating said ram and for moving said cylinder in such. manner that vthe interior oi said cylinder is placed in fluid-tight communication with the cavity of said mold prior to actuation of said ramvto eject the charge from said cylinder through said passage into said mold; means intermediate said mold and `said injection cylinder forming a passage for thesinjection cf said plastic material into said mold and having a seat at the entrance of saidpaSSage to receive said injection cylinder inuid-tight engagement, said means providing a channel crossing said fluid passage; a valve plate reciprocably mounted in said channel and provided with a portwhich registers with said passage in one position of .said plate to permit the injection of plastic material into said mold; a plunger adjacent the path of said plate and adapted to pass into said port when the same is in registry therewith; and means for reciprocating said valve plate from one of said positions to the other to iirst open said fluid passage and then to close the sameA and to register said port with said plunger. Y

6. Aninjection molding machinefor plastic materials, including: a movable injection cylinder; a mold having a passage for receiving plas#A tlcized material from said cylinder; a source o plastic material for said cylinder; a ram movable 1n one direction in saidl cylinder to admit a charge oi'material to said cylinder from saidsourceixand in .another direction to eject the vcharge from said cylinder; vmeans for actuating said ram andior moving said cylinder in such manner that the interior of said cylinder is placed in -uid-tight communication with the cavity of said mold prior to actuation of said ram to eject the charge from said cylinder through said passage into said mold: a;valve body intermediate said mold and said injection cylinder forming a passage for the injecf tion of said plastic material into said mold and having a seat at the entrance of said passage to receive said injection cylinder in fluid-tight en. gagernent, said valve body providing a channel crossing said fluid passage; a valve plate reciprocably mounted in said channel and provided with a port which registers with said passage in one position of saidrpiate to permit the injection of plastic material into said mold; a plunger adjacent the path of said plate and adapted to pass into said port when the same is in registry therewith; means for reciprocating said valve plate from one of said positions to the other to rst open said fluid passage and then to close the saine and to register said port with said plunger; and an electromagnet mounted on said valve body adapted to operate said plunger upon the retraction of said vvalve `plate to passage closing position.

7. In injection molding apparatus of the type having means for supporting a mold and means for injecting a plastic material into -said mold under pressure, the combination with said mold supporting meansof: means forming a passage iorthe injection of said plastic material into said mold and providing a channel crossing said passage; a valve plate reciprocably andv slidably mounted in said channel and provided with a port which registers with said passage in one position of said plate to permit the injection of plastic into said mold, said plate closing said passage when said port is not in registry therewith; means adjacent the path of said plate and in registry with said port when said plate is in a retracted position to remove -any material lodged in said port; and means for reciprocating said valve plate from one of said positions to the other to alternately open and close said passage and clear said port. Y

GEORGE F. ROTSLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 969,539 Kitchen Sept. 6, 1910 1,674,387 Campbell June 19, 1928 2,035,801 Gastrow Mar. 31, 1936 2,090,489 Sommerfeld Aug. 1'7, 1937 2,111,857 j Jeilery 2.--- Mar. 22, 1938 2,274,800 Lester Mar. 3, 1942 V2,319,482 Tucker May 18, 1943 2,333,056 Thoreson et al Oct. 26, 1943 2,351,774 McGowan June 20, 1944 2,374,468 Van Open Apr. 24, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 541,787 l Great Britain Dec. 11, 1941 Germany Nov.. 19, 1932 

